Cat Footwear For Every Industry: Puttergill Farming

When it comes to a tough day's work, professionals across various industries need footwear that can handle the rigours of the job while keeping them comfortable and safe. Cat Footwear has been a trusted brand for many of these individuals, providing the necessary durability, support, and protection.

We were interested to get to know who these professionals are, and what a day in their lives looks like!

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Brett and Grant Puttergill, a pair of remarkable brothers who are the driving force behind the success of Puttergill Farms.

1. Tell us what your daily routine consists of.

We begin our day at 4 am with milking, and then daily farm chores commence at 7 am. This consists of checking stock, dipping cattle, doing pasture checks, water and irrigation checks and then milking in the afternoon again until 6 pm.

2. Since you have to be on your feet for most of the day, what characteristics do you look for in your footwear?

Light, comfortable, and durable footwear that can handle dairy conditions is so important for us to have, especially since we are on our feet from 4 am until 6 pm.

The Exposition Chelsea AT / ASTM/Alloy Toe by Cat Footwear was a great choice for us, especially since it was comfortable, slip resistant and certainly lightweight. Another design that we found to be ideal for our working conditions, was the Propane non steel. Both options are pull-ons, which we really like.

3. Tell us more about the dairy farming industry and some of the challenges you face.

The dairy industry in South Africa is an important sector of the South African economy, with milk production and processing being a significant source of employment and income for many people. Our biggest challenge is that we are price takers thus, retailers/buyers control the price of our product. Drought and climate change, as well as the rising feed and input costs, make dairy farming challenging.

4. Can you tell us what type of cows you raise and the process of milking them?

We milk a total of 460 cows, predominantly Holsteins and a few Jersey cows twice a day. We also run a beef herd consisting of Hereford and Angus cattle totalling approximately 300.

We milk 40 cows at a time with an automated Delaval Alpro system. The cattle are fed concentrate according to the milk production whilst being milked. They then head out to the pastures to graze.
Process – disinfectant etc

5. How do you ensure the health and welfare of your cows?

We ensure our cattle are supplemented with the best feed and pastures, with a well-balanced diet consisting of maize and various minerals. We also ensure that our pastures are well managed to achieve optimal milk production. Stringent hygiene protocols are enforced in the dairy to minimise health issues in the cattle. Additionally, the farm has a vaccination program to protect the cattle from common diseases.

6. What made you join the dairy industry? Did you always know you wanted to be in the industry?

Bluegums Farm was our childhood home which started out as a tomato, green bean, and dairy farm. Our dad was responsible for milking the cows, and we spent a lot of time on the farm, learning about agriculture through hands-on experience. Being surrounded by the natural environment and the farm animals, we developed a passion for working with cattle and the entire agricultural process.

Our time spent on the farm was a valuable learning experience. We learned about the various aspects of agriculture and our dad taught us everything he knew about the different breeds of cattle and how to select and breed top-class genetics.

We have always had a love for working with cattle, and we take pride in breeding top-class genetics. We have a deep understanding of the science behind cattle breeding and the importance of selecting the best genetics to produce healthy and productive animals. Our passion for breeding has driven us to constantly seek out new knowledge and techniques to ensure that we produce the highest quality animals.

It's inspiring to see the dedication and hard work that goes into the dairy farming industry, and the critical role that professionals like Brett and Grant, play in ensuring the success of this sector. As we learned from our conversation with these two brothers, the right footwear can make all the difference in handling the demands of the job.

So, step into your industry with a pair of Cat Footwear on your side, and watch how you too can move the earth.